In the Press

The recently delivered 25 m RPA-8 patrol vessel for the Port of Rotterdam is a completely new approach of the patrol vessel concept by Shipyard Kooiman, Zwijndrecht, Netherlands. The tender was set out to build a hybrid-propulsed patrol vessel with a max speed of 35 knots and a limitation to the aft wave of max 40 cm at 30 meters behind the vessel. The very efficient design by Van Oossanen, including a Hull Vane®, even exceeds these demands.

A new 25 m RPA-8 patrol vessel for the Port of Rotterdam under construction at Shipyard Kooiman, Zwijndrecht, Netherlands will sail in a densely populated area, with heavy traffic on the waterways. Its design is the result of a competitive public tender process that stressed the importance of the vessel’s complete life-cycle costs and the need for minimal emissions and minimal wave formation.

The Dutch science & technology magazine Quest published an interesting article on the Hull Vane in their latest edition

In November 2015, Hull Vane received the Maritime Innovation Award. The jury’s decision was based on the Hull Vane® being a proven system to reduce fuel consumption and improve the sea-keeping of ships.

Please read the full article of ShipBuilding Industry about the Hull Vane® here.

The Report Magazine, the official publication of the International Institute of Marine Surveying, published an extensive feature about the Hull Vane®. The article gives an overview of the development history of the fuel saving and seakeeping device, as well as its working principles and application area. It can be downloaded here.

Increased savings through hydrodynamics

Not all innovations take place in the engine room – the hull vane aims to recover energy from the flow of water at the stern, reducing resistance and saving fuel, says Bruno Bouckaert of Hull Vane BV in an article from International Tug & OSV.

Shipyard “De Hoop” recently completed sea trails with the first hybrid Fast Supply Intervention Vessels (FSIV) with great success. The results surpassed all expectations, with a mayor contribution from the Hull Vane®.

Please read the following (translated) excerpt from a the Dutch article in “Maritiem Nieuws”.

The application of a bulbous bow and a Hull Vane® further reduced the fuel consumption. The Hull Vane, a fuel saving device developed by Van Oossanen Naval Architects, consists of a fixed hydrofoil positioned underneath the hull mounted on struts behind the rudders. Fitted to the FSIV, the Hull Vane® achieved a further reduction of 12% to 15% in required shaft power, depending on speed. Especially in the higher speed range the Hull Vane® comes into its own. An additional feature of the Hull Vane® increased comfort when sailing in waves. The foil has a dampening influence on the vertical motions in the aft ship, reducing pitch and heave accelerations.

Van Oossanen’s invention of the Hull Vane® could be considered as one of the most interesting innovations in underwater appendages for reducing a ship’s resistance since the invention of the bulbous bow in the late 19th century. The Hull Vane® consists of a (hydro)foil positioned below the aft hull bottom of a vessel, way below the water surface. With the bulb forming an integrated part of the forward hull of a vessel, the Hull Vane® is an add-on below the stern of the vessel by means of struts. Both however have similar purposes: reducing the vessel’s resistance.